Apparatus for drying coatings



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United States Patent() 3,292,273 APPARATUS FOR DRYING COATINGS Reinoldas Pipyne, Evanston, Ill., assignor to The Celotex Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 259,833 4 Claims. (Cl. 34-155) This invention relates to a method and apparatus tor drying a coating on a Ibase material, and more particularly for drying a paint coating :on a base material.

'It is conventional to apply a heated Iiron or heated roll to a painted surface While the paint is still wet, in order to dry the paint coating more rapidly than it dries, if only exposed to heated air alone. This technique has been tried in the drying of the paint coating on acoustical tiles. It has been found, however, that frequently the direct applioation of the heated iron to the wet paint coating causes the paint coating to dry with a Iglossy or shiny nish. In many circumstances, a shiny tinish is undesirable.

lt has been unexpectedly found that if vsteam is applied to the paint coating simultaneously with the applicati-on of the hot iron or heated roll, the paint coating will dry rapidly without a .glossy finish.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for drying a paint coatingy While simultaneously applying steam thereto.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple apparatus which is adjustable to accommodate base ymaterials of different thicknesses :for drying a paint coating applied thereto.

It is yet another object ofthe present invention to provide a method for drying a paint coating so that the coating does not have a glossy or shiny finish.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements and in which:

IFIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a simpliiied apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded View in perspective of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view partially in crosssection of the apparatus of FIGURE 3, taken :along lines 3 3 thereof; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

The details of the invention may be better understood by reference to the several figures of the drawings and particularly FIGURE 1 thereof, wherein the apparatus is shown in simplified form. A water reservoir or chamber is supplied from a conventional source 1i1. Water .from reservoir 10 is supplied to a steam .generator 14 which is heated bya `heat source 16 to convert the water to steam. Steam generator 14 may be a conventional steam :generator available from commercial sources. In fact, in actual practice, an ordinary steam iron was modiiied by plugging all |but one hole in its sole plate and connecting the unplugged hole to the remainder of the apparatus.

The steam .generator 14 is connected over a tube or conduit I17 to a paint drying element 20. Drying element 20 comprises a lower flat plate 22 having a number of' perforations 23 therein. Plate 22 is metallic and may be of cast iron or aluminum, having a smooth bottom snrface. Plate 22 has a flange 25 around its upper periphery to form a steam chamber -27 with a top imperforate plate 29 which may be welded or bolted to the top of ange 25. An external source of heat for heating drying element 20 may be provided by the hse of radiant heat lamps ice 33. If desired, an electric heating coil (not shown) may be inserted in plate -22 to provide the required heat. The plate 22 should preferably be heated to about 400 F.

A base material or block 311 which has had a paint coating 34 -applied to its upper sur-face may be, tor example, -acoust-ical tile, such as a -iiberboard or mineral wool iiber tile conventionally manufactured and sold by The Celotex Corporation. These acoustical tiles may be manufactured -on a modied paparmaking machine, dried and sanded in a conventional manner. The paint coating 34 may be sprayed, brushed or applied in any one of many conventional ways. The details of the manufacturing process for the acoustical tile, or base material, and the application of the paint coating thereon do not form a part of the present invention which pertains only to drying of the coating.

The freshly painted acoustical tile 31 is brought into contact with the perforated tace of drying element 20 and steam .from generator 14 is applied thereto `through perforations 23. The heat in the steam and in the plate y22 dries the paint, but the presence of the steam prevents a glossy or shiny iinish on the dried paint. -In practice, a conveyor, such as that shown in FIGURE 4, may be `used to brin-g the painted tile 31 runder and into contactv with the drying element 20.

The method of simultaneously applying heat and steam to a wet paint surf-ace is believed to be novel and eliminates other complicating apparatus -which .may be necessary to achieve a ,gloss-free finish. It is believed that the steam acts as a lubricant and keeps a cushion between the bottom -of plate 22 and the painted surface of tile 3i1 to pre-vent direct contact between the wet paint and the plate.

Certain of the acoustical tiles sold 'in commerce have beveled edges. -It is desirable also to avoid a glossy or shiny iinish on the bevel portions of the tile. To accomplish this, a unique bevel drying element 40 has been provided. Element 40, as shown in 'FIGURES 2 and 3, comprises a generally Z-shaped structure having an -npper laterally extending flange 42 integrally connected to and forming an obtuse angle with a downwardly extending portion 44. Member 44 is integrally mounted on or connected -to a base portion 45. Base portion 46 has a rearwardly extending flange 47 and a -forwardly extending tiange 48 whose upper surface is parallel to the lower surface lof the outwardly extending flange 42. The acute angle formed between tlange 48 and member 44 and the obtuse angle vformed between iiange 42 and member 44 are designed to be complementary to the bevel portion of an acoustical tile 31. Drying element 40 has a perforated portion'SO covering most of the area interiorly of meinber 44. The dimensions are so arranged that -tile 31 co-ntacts the surface of flanges 42 and -48 during the drying process. The bevel area of tile 31 is cushioned by the steam emerging :from perforations 49 in portion 50 so that it is not in direct contact with member 44. A 'hood member 53 is arranged rto be bolted to member 40 throngh holes 54 and threaded holes 56. Obviously, any conventional method of secu-ring hood 53 to member 40 may be nsed. Radiant heat lamps y63 connected to a conventional source of electric power may be used to heat drying element 40. If desired, element 40 may be wired with a heating coil.

As may be seen in FIGURE 3, the drying element 40 has a steam chamber 60 formed by the hood 53 and the rear surface of element 44. A tube or conduit 66 oonnects hood 53 with a steam generator 67.

With regard to the drying of the wet paint applied to the bevel portion of acoustical tile 31, the process is similar to that described hereinbeffore. The drying element 40, however, has been particularly adapted to the drying of the paint on the bevel portion of the acoustical tile.

With reference to FIGURE 4, there is therein shown an alternative apparatus for drying paint on the upper sur- `face of an acoustical tile. 'I'he apparatus comprises an ironing ele-ment 70 which has an `arcuate face 72 extending downwardly to merge with a rilat bottom portion 74 of the iron. The iron has :holes 76 drilled therethrough extending from `a steam chamber 78 to outlet holes 80 in the bottom of the iron. Steam chamber 78 is a hollowed out space at the upper portion of ironing element 70 and is closed by a top plate `83 which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the top of iron 70. A tube 85 connects steam chamber 7K8 with a steam generator S7, much in the manner shown in previous figures. As schematically shown, iron 70 is adjustable in an np and down direction by .means of pivot pin 89 and a pair of adjustable stops 91 and 93. Adjustable stop 91 is threaded on a bolt or shaft 95 above the lupper surface of iron 70 and is contacted by a tongue 97 integral with iron 70 and extending rearwardly therefrom. Adjust-able stop 93 is mounted on bolt 95 below the lower surface of tongue 97.

In order to adjust the pressure with which iron 70 rests on the upper surface of acoustical tiles 31, there is pro- 'vided a counter-weight mechanism comprising a bar .102 mounted to the left of pivot pin 89 by means of a bolt 103. A Weight 105, which is slidably adjustable along bar 102, is provided so that the pressure of the bottom surface 74 and iron 70 may be iinely adjusted by the position of weight 105.

Mounted below the surface 74 of iron 70 is a conveyor-106 comprising rotatably driven wheels 107 and 108 having a belt 109 riding thereon. Wheels 107 and 108 may be driven by a conventional power source (not shown). immediately below and of approximately the same area as the under surface 74 of iron 70 is an anvil or supporting structure 110.

It is obvious that the iron, pivot pin, bolt 95 and other elements of this apparatus must be supported on a frame, which is not herein shown. The assembly of the various components on a suitable iframe is readily apparent to lthose skilled in the art and requires no detail shown therein. The relative sizes of the various components may :be adjusted in wide limits, although the surface area of the bottom of the iron should be Iat least that of the surface of the tile 31, whose surface coating is to be dried. The speed of the conveyor belt may be adjusted in accordance with the amount of steam applied through holes 80 so that proper drying occurs without the appearance of a glossy finish.

Radiant heat lamps 120 may be provided to heat iron 70, as previously discussed. Heat may be also provided through an electrical coil inserted in iron 70.

The actual manner o-f drying of the painted surface of acoustical tiles 31 is similar to that discussed hereinbefore. The steam generated in generator 87 is received in chamber 78 and thence flows downwardly and outwardly through perforation 80. The lower surface 74 of iron 70 is smooth and is cushioned from the paint surface by the steam.

With regard to the paint rused, it is believed that any of a broad spectrum of types of paint may be used. The paint actually used was a water base paint containing suitable pigments and adhesives with water as the suspendin-g agent or carrier. Various resins, acrylics or acetates may be used as binders in the paint formulation. As a caution, however, oil base paints should not be used.

More specifically, ythe paint w-as brushed on the surface of the base material at a coverage ofabout-1.07 gallons per thousand square feet of tile.

While particular embodiments of the present inventionr for supplying steam through said perforations, said heat-1 ing element further having a pair of parallel iianges ex-` tending laterally from said perforated flat surface, one of l said flanges :forming an obtuse angle with said flat sur-face` and the other of said flanges forming an acute angle with said fiat surface, said iianges being separated by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a solid base material, l said iianges and said flat surface forming a configuration which is complementary to the beveled surface of a base material.

2. An apparatus for drying a paint coating on a surface of a base material comprising a heating element havin-g a smooth flat surface over a major portion thereof, sep-` arate heating means :for heating said element, said surface. having a plurality of perforat-ions therethrough dispersed over said surface, means connected to said heating ele-` ment for supplying steam lthrough said perforations, and` means for slidably conveying a base material with its` painted surface closely adjacent said smooth iiat surface, i

whereby said paint coating is dried by the simultaneous application of heat and steam;

3. An apparatus for drying a paint coating on a paint surface Vof a base material in accordance with claiml, wherein said heating element further has pivotal means connected thereto,

land counter balance means connected to said heating means and cooperating with said pivotal means so as to permit adjustment of the press-ure of said heating means on the paint coating of a solid base material.

4. An apparatus lfor drying a paint coating on a surface of a base material comprising -a heating element having y a smooth fla-t surface over a lmajor portion thereof, `sep i arate heating .means for said heating element, said surface having a plurali-ty of perforations therethrough dispersed over said surface, means connected to said heating element for supplying steam through said perforations, means for slidably conveying a base material 4with its painted surface adjacent said smooth fiat surface, and supfport means below said conveying means 'for maintaining a coated base material closely adjacent said heating element, whereby said paint coating is dried by the simuli taneofus application of heat and steam.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 228,259 6/1880 Johnson 34-23 X 983,327 2/1911 Thoma ll7-ll9.8 i 2,438,366 3/1948 Illingworth 117`l 19.8 2,627,667 2/1953 Gillis 34---23` 1 2,731,732 1/1956 Harris et al 34-160 XI 2,848,820 8/1958 Wallin et al. 34-23 3,136,654 6/1964 Craver 1l7-l19.8

FREDERICK L. MATIESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

RICHARD D. NEVIUS, WILLIAM F. ODEA,

Examiners.

M. KAPLAN, C. R. REMKE, Assistant Examiners. 

2. AN APPARATUS FOR DRYING A PAINT COATING ON A SURFACE OF A BASE MATERIAL COMPRISING A HEATING ELEMENT HAVING A SMOOTH FLAT SURFACE OVER A MAJOR PORTION THEREOF, SEPARATE HEATING MEANS FOR HEATING SAID ELEMENT, SAID SURFACE HAVING A PLURALITY OF PERFORATIONS THERETHROUGH DISPERSED OVER SAID SURFACE, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID HEATING ELEMENT FOR SUPPLYING STEAM THROUGH SAD PERFORATIONS, AND MEANS FOR SLIDABLY CONVEYING A BASE MATERIAL WITH ITS PAINTED SURFACE CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID SMOOTH FLAT SURFACE, WHEREBY SAID PAINT COATING IS DRIED BY THE SIMULTANEOUS APPLICATION OF HEAT AND STEAM. 